If you are not already doing so, you need to follow Dan Drezner on Twitter. Actually, back up. If you are not already, you need to be on Twitter. Stop what you are doing and join the social media craze that has already become passe. Go ahead, I’ll wait. You done? Good. Now, you need to follow Dan Drezner on Twitter.
For those of you not familiar, Dan Drezner is a blogger, teacher, foreign policy wonk, and zombie lover who keeps things pretty damn entertaining in 140 characters or less. And while these are all good reasons to follow the man, his latest exercise in twitteration is reason enough. Drezner recently announced that he would be reading Agenda 21, the latest novel “by” Glenn Beck (quotations due to the fact that Beck did not write the novel, but simply paid for the right to present it as his own, more on that later), and that he would be live-tweeting excerpts and commentary as he goes along.
The novel takes it’s name from a United Nation’s proposal that was adopted in 1993. This non-binding plan of action was developed as a way to assist in planning and organizing development at the local, national and global levels in order to ensure a sustainable economic, social and environmentally sound future in the face of overpopulation and dwindling natural resources.
Of course, in the world of Glenn Beck, a man who hocks gold and end of days survival kits to those susceptible to his fear mongering, such a non-binding plan is really nothing more than a way for the UN to assume command of the global structure of power and leadership in order to bring on a dystopian society in which all people are subjugated before the authority of the global order. Naturally. Drezner’s first few tweets on the book have been quite humorous and, given the material he has to work with, I am really looking forward to keeping up with his progress.
I also recommend checking out what Sarah Cypher has to say about Agenda 21 over at Salon. Cypher had the pleasure of editing the book as written by its original author, Harriet Parke. This was before Beck bought the rights to the material and left his mark all over it. Cypher’s article offers some great insight into the intent and impact of the eponymous UN plan, as well as how, by simply implementing his brand, Beck managed to alter the tone and implication of the book’s central theme to fit his agenda.
If the previous works that bore Beck’s name are any indicator, Agenda 21 will probably end up being a best seller. Luckily, thanks to Dan Drezner, you’ll be able to enjoy the best parts for free, and probably be better for it.
wtf, Cobra? 